Brickkiln



Nov. 16 1926. 1,607,525

J. K. GILLAM v BRICKKILN Filed Jan. 7, 1926 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOHN K. GILLAM, OF'KITTANNING, PEN 'NSYLVAN'IK.

BRICKKILN.

Application filed January 27, 1926. Serial No; 84,137.

This invention relates to-iimprovement's-in.

' of brick kilns.

The primary object of the inventionis an improved firing system for brick kilns. 4

Another object of the inventionis theprovision of a centrally located underground firing and heating system for brick kilns.

Another and further object of the inven tion is the provision of a firing system for brick kilns which will greatly lessen the present fuel cost for heating kilns and will additionally effect a saving of time-inthe burning of bricks and additionally effect a saving as to loss caused by the over-burning of bricks.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a firing system for brick kilns in which the kiln walls proper are practically the same as in the ordinary kilnbut will eliminate openings inthe kiln walls and also eliminate the necessity of-bagwalls and thereby obviate the necessity and expense of building said bagwalls as has heretofore been the case.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a firing system'by reason-of which greater room is given in the kiln chamber proper for the reception of bricks to be burned.

A still further object of the; invention is the provision of a firing system for brick kilns by reason of which the finished burned bricks will be of a better grade and quality than those produced in the common form of brick kiln now known and used.

Other further objects and novel features of construction and improved'results of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: v b

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View throu h .a kiln having incorporated therewith t 1e improved firing system; 7

Figure 2 is a transversesection taken on the line 2-2 of Figure'l, looking in the direction indicated by arrows;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by arrows.

To those skilled in the art, it is well known that the cost of the fuel consumed in burning a kiln of brick is the most important item as to making the finished product expensive. Practicallyall kilns in this country are fired from fireboxe's just inside the outer wall or rim of the kiln.

In kilns. of this construction whenused for burning 1 gray brick, it has been found necessary to rebuild the bag-walls twice a year. lt isof course, also necessary to have openings inthe kiln wall, because ofthe fire box. It has also been found that in kilns of this nature there has been great. difliculty' encountered in. burning those bricks in the centerof the kiln to a sulficient hardness.

Ordinarily in a'brickkiln having an inside measurement of28 feet, there are eight fire holes or fire boxes .with either a circularor squarewall of brick, 8 inches thick around each fire hole or box. Th iswall is for the: fire or to burn against and is what is commonly; known. as the" .bag wall. There .is approximately 10 square feetin each of these walls and it will therefore be seen that these walls take up a considerable amount of the roomor'sp'ace in theinterior of the kiln heatingor burning chamber. 7

. Knowing ;the. above enumerated disadvantages of the ordinary'brick kiln construe? tion, I have inven'ted and; devised animproved, firingQSystem' for brick kilns which will overcome these deficiencies and results in theproduction of hetterbricks. I b

As will-be hereinafter seen this invention will-eliminate the expense of building bagwal ls, prolong the life of the kiln outer wall by taking thefires away fromv this wall andby reason .of the manner of firing, reduce to a very small amount the number of bricks which are subjected to severe heat which causes them to be'over-burned orflashed so that theyv must be soldat a-reduced price as a'common grade brick. g Referring to the several figures v of a the drawing. which like parts are designated bysimilar reference numerals, .it will be seen that the kiln proper is circular in form, comprising an outer wall 5 surmounted by a dome 6 and having a floor 7 whereby the kilnheatingorburning chamber 8. is provided.

Extending-transverse the kiln, below the floor, there'is a tunnel 9 which is divided intermediate its length and centrally of the kiln. by. ajflash wall ,'10. The, tunnel adjacent the flesh wall 10 is somewhat enlarged and is provided with a series of burner holes 11 which are formed by reason of the separated vertical walls 12. These fire holes are adapted to receive the gas or oil burners 13, the common feed line 1st of which e2;- tends outwardly through the tunnels to a suitable source of supply. Access to the tunnel is had by means of the steps 15. By reason of the construction described there is provided the fire or burn-er chambers 16 on either side of the flash wall intermediate the wall and the fire or burner openings.

The burner chambers 16 are in communication at their upper ends as at 17 with the interior of the kiln heating chamber 8.

The floor 7 is provided with circular flues 18 and 19. The flue 18 is adjacent the central burner chamber outlet 17 while the flue 19 is positioned just within the wall 5 of the kiln. These circular flues are in communication with the radially extending horizontally arranged flues 20 which are in turn in communication with the outlet stacks or chimneys 21 built in the kiln wall.

Attention at this time is directed to the fact that the circular lines 18 and 19 could be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention and might readily be replaced by a series of small squares or rectangular openings having communication with the outlet chimneys. If desired, all of the radial flu-es couldbe led to a single chimney rather than to several as shown in the drawings.

It is intended that green brick be piled or arranged in a circle as shown at 22 around the outlet openings 17 so that the heat from the burner chamber will be carried upwardly within a few feet of the crown or dome 6 of the kiln and from this point will be drawn downwardly through the piles or rows of bricks and pass outwardly through the fines 18, 19, and 20 and chimneys 21.

It will be understood that the kiln chamber 8 will be piled circularly with brick to a point adjacent the ring or outer wall 5 as designated by the numeral 23. These circular piles of bricks, however, will start at a point outside of the circular flue 18 and stop short of the circular flue 19 and will be piled loosely whereas the brick in the circular green brick flue 22 will be piled tightly and closed to prevent the escape of the heat until the upper end of the flue adjacent the kiln dome, is reached. By this arrangement there is in reality formed flue-ways 24 and 25 in communication with the circular fiues 18 and 19 respectively.

With bricks arranged in the above manner the heat will pass in among the bricks which are loosely piled or set with the result that the bricks will burn uniformly in all parts of the kiln.

It will be readily evident that the person operating the kiln can enter the tunnel 9 and light the burner 18 and that means can be there at hand for the proper adjustment oi the burners. These burners will burn against the flash wall 10 and the heat will then pass upwardly through the opening 17, temporary flue 22 and thence downwardly through the bricks and outwardly through the chimneys 21. The air intake for the kiln is had through the tunnel 9 and the chambers 16 are sufiiciently large to provide the necessary air for combustion. By reason of this firing system, the flash wall 10 can be readily and easily repaired whenever necessary.

From the foregoing it will beseen that I have provided a tiring system for brick kilns which overcomes the objectionable. features common in the form of brick kilns now in use.

Although the present invention is described'as being particularly adapted for the firing and burning of brick it will be readily understood that practically any product made of clay can be readily tired or burned in a kiln constructed in accordance with my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A brick kiln or the like, comprising a kiln chamber "adapted to receive the brick to be burned, a tunnel beneath said chamber and extending transverse the same, a flashwall in sald tunnel and burners for directing fire against said flash-wall, passageways for the heat from said burners to pass into the kiln chamber, the brick in said kiln chamber piled to form a flue for directing said heat to the upper part of the kiln chamber, flues in said kiln chamber floor in communication with chimneys for carrying ofl said heat after the same'has circulated through the brick, and said tunnel providing inlet means for cold air to the burners and a walk-way, whereby the burners can be reached by an operator for regulation.

2. A system for heating the burning chamber of a kiln or the like, comprising a tunnel beneath said kiln having therein a fiash-wall against which the heating medium is directed, communication between the tunnel and the kiln tor the passage of the neat upwardly thereinto, and said tunnel acting as a cold air-inlet for the burners and as a walk-way whereby the burners can be reached for regulation and the flash-wall for repair.

3. A system for heating the burning chamber of a kiln or the like, comprising a fire-chamber located centrally beneath said whereby there is provided a combined up said chamber, a flash-wall in said tunnel and down draughtkiln with an underground against which said heating burners direct central heating chamber. their heat, and said tunnel acting as a walk- 0 4. A kiln or the like adapted to be heated Way and a cold air inlet. 5 by gas orfluid burners, comprising a kiln In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my chamber having central communication with signature. a tunnel extending transverse and below JOHN K. GILLAM. 

